Modern-day snakes are believed to evolve from four-legged lizards, but scientists were divided over whether that phase of evolution occurred on land or in the sea; the recent discovery of fossils of a land-dwelling snake with two legs provides new information for the ongoing debate.
A)evolve from four-legged lizards, but scientists were
B)have evolved from four-legged lizards, but scientists are
C)evolve from four-legged lizards, but scientists are
D)have evolved from four-legged lizards, but scientists were
E)be evolving from four-legged lizards, but scientists were
Guys ,
Can you pls explain .
The correct Idiom is - Believe TO BE right?
OA B
Snake
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BELIEVED TO BE is one correct idiom, as in: He was believed to be the worst king in history.
BELIEVED TO [VERB] is also a correct idiom, as a way of expressing what someone or something was thought to have done: She is believed to sing better than anyone else in the choir.
In this case, we want to say that people believe that modern snakes evolved from lizards. When describing something believed to have happened in the past, we use BELIEVED + PRESENT PERFECT (look at the example "believed to have happened" in this sentence). So, we need to say "Modern-day snakes are believed to have evolved." Eliminate all but B and D.
Now we must decide the correct verb tense: "scientists were" or "scientists are." Since it's an ongoing debate, we must say "scientists are." The correct answer is B.
BELIEVED TO [VERB] is also a correct idiom, as a way of expressing what someone or something was thought to have done: She is believed to sing better than anyone else in the choir.
In this case, we want to say that people believe that modern snakes evolved from lizards. When describing something believed to have happened in the past, we use BELIEVED + PRESENT PERFECT (look at the example "believed to have happened" in this sentence). So, we need to say "Modern-day snakes are believed to have evolved." Eliminate all but B and D.
Now we must decide the correct verb tense: "scientists were" or "scientists are." Since it's an ongoing debate, we must say "scientists are." The correct answer is B.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education